Motorcycle locking stand

ABSTRACT

A motorcycle locking stand for providing a stand to which a motorcycle can be securely locked to prevent theft. The stand includes an elongated horizontal base member anchorable to an underlying surface, a U-shaped lock bar attached to and extending horizontally along both sides of the base member, and a restraining member securable at both ends to the U-shaped lock bar. As such, the wheels of a motorcycle are positionable within the base member and the restraining member is securable in association with the motorcycle such that the motorcycle is immobilized.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/574,079, filed May 19, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to motorcycle locks and more particularlypertains to a new motorcycle locking stand for providing a stand towhich a motorcycle can be securely locked to prevent theft.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of motorcycle locks is known in the prior art. Morespecifically, motorcycle locks heretofore devised and utilized are knownto consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structuralconfigurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by thecrowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment ofcountless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art motorcycle locks include U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,075; U.S.Pat. No. 4,182,454; U.S. Pat. No. D276,988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,211;U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,407 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,847.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a newmotorcycle locking stand. The inventive device includes an elongatedhorizontal base member anchorable to an underlying surface, a U-shapedlock bar attached to and extending horizontally along both sides of thebase member, and a restraining member securable at both ends to theU-shaped lock bar. As such, the wheels of a motorcycle are positionablewithin the base member and the restraining member is securable inassociation with the motorcycle such that the motorcycle is immobilized.

In these respects, the motorcycle locking stand according to the presentinvention substantially departs from the conventional concepts anddesigns of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of providing a stand to which amotorcycle can be securely locked to prevent theft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofmotorcycle locks now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides a new motorcycle locking stand construction wherein the samecan be utilized for providing a stand to which a motorcycle can besecurely locked to prevent theft.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new motorcycle lockingstand apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of themotorcycle locks mentioned heretofore and many novel features thatresult in a new motorcycle locking stand which is not anticipated,rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior artmotorcycle locks, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongatedhorizontal base member anchorable to an underlying surface, a U-shapedlock bar attached to and extending horizontally along both sides of thebase member, and a restraining member securable at both ends to theU-shaped lock bar. As such, the wheels of a motorcycle are positionablewithin the base member and the restraining member is securable inassociation with the motorcycle such that the motorcycle is immobilized.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand apparatus and method which has many of theadvantages of the motorcycle locks mentioned heretofore and many novelfeatures that result in a new motorcycle locking stand which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art motorcycle locks, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand which may be easily and efficientlymanufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand which is of a durable and reliableconstruction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such motorcycle locking stand economicallyavailable to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand which provides in the apparatuses and methodsof the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneouslyovercoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand for providing a stand to which a motorcycle canbe securely locked to prevent theft.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand which includes an elongated horizontal basemember anchorable to an underlying surface, a U-shaped lock bar attachedto and extending horizontally along both sides of the base member, and arestraining member securable at both ends to the U-shaped lock bar. Assuch, the wheels of a motorcycle are positionable within the base memberand the restraining member is securable in association with themotorcycle such that the motorcycle is immobilized.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand that provides multiple points to which amotorcycle can be locked.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newmotorcycle locking stand that provides vertical support for a motorcycleand allows for storage without having to use the kickstand of themotorcycle.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a new motorcycle locking stand in useaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new motorcycle locking stand embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

More specifically, it will be noted that the motorcycle locking stand 10comprises an elongated horizontal base member 20 anchorable to anunderlying surface, a u-shaped lock bar 30 attached to and extendinghorizontally along both sides of the base member 20, and a restrainingmember 40 securable at both ends to the U-shaped lock bar 30. As such,the wheels 3 of a motorcycle 2 are positionable within the base member20 and the restraining member 40 is securable in association with themotorcycle 2 such that the motorcycle 2 is immobilized.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, it can be shown that theelongated horizontal base member 20 includes a planar bottom portion 23and a pair of inverted V-shaped portions 24 integrally joined to andextending along opposite sides of the planar bottom portion 23 such thatthe base member 20 is generally channel-shaped. As such, the base member20 is shaped to effectively receive and guide the wheels 3 of themotorcycle 2 into position.

Each of the inverted V-shaped portions 24 include an inner wall 25 andan outer wall 26. The inner wall 25 is integrally joined to the planarbottom portion 23 and is oriented at an angle A thereto. In anillustrative embodiment, the angle A is about 60 degrees. The outer wall26 is integrally joined to the inner wall 25 and is generally verticallyoriented. Structurally, the outer wall 26 provides lateral support forthe base member 20.

The base member 20 has a first end 21 and a second end 22. Each of theinverted V-shaped portions 24 has a cutout 27 therein intermediate thefirst end 21 and the second end 22 of the base member 20. In addition,the bottom portion 23 of the base member 20 has a plurality of holes 28therethrough. Preferably, the plurality of holes 28 are spaced along thebottom portion 23. In an illustrative embodiment, a first pair of holesare provided adjacent the first end 21 of the base member 20, a secondpair of holes are provided adjacent the second end 22 of the base member20, and a third pair of holes are provided intermediate the first end 21and the second end 22 of the base member 20.

The base member 20 is anchored to the underlying surface by a pluralityof anchor bolts 29. Each of the anchor bolts 29 are inserted through oneof the holes 28 provided in the bottom portion 23 of the base member 20.Each of the anchor bolts 29 are received by a bolt anchor 29 a embeddedin the underlying surface. Preferably, each of the anchor bolts 29 arecountersunk into the base member 20.

A security plate 50 is secured over the bottom portion 23 of the basemember 20 so as to eliminate access to the anchor bolts 29 used inanchoring the base member 20 to the underlying surface. The securityplate 50 extends substantially from the first end 21 of the base member20 to the second end 22. In a preferred embodiment, the security plate50 is hingedly connected to the bottom portion 23 of the base member 20at the first end 21 thereof by a hinge 51 and is secured in place byanchor bolts 59. As such, the security plate 50 cannot easily be removedand access to the anchor bolts 29 used in anchoring the base member 20to the underlying surface is thwarted when the motorcycle 2 ispositioned within the base member 20 and rests on top of the securityplate 50.

The U-shaped lock bar 30 includes an end portion 31 and a pair of sideportions 32 each extending from opposite ends of the end portion 31 in aspaced substantially parallel relationship. The U-shaped lock bar 30 issecurely attached to the base member 20 such that the side portions 32each extend horizontally along opposite sides of the base member 20 andsuch that the end portion 31 projects beyond the first end 21 of thebase member 20. More specifically, one of the side portions 32 of theU-shaped lock bar 30 is positioned within one of the inverted V-shapedportions 24 of the base member 20 and the other side portion 32 of theU-shaped lock bar 30 is positioned within the other inverted V-shapedportion 24 of the base member 20.

The side portions 32 of the U-shaped lock bar 30 are of sufficientlength so as to extend beyond the cutouts 27 provided in each of theinverted V-shaped portions 24 of the base member 20. As such, a lockablelength 33 of each of the side portions 32 of the U-shaped lock bar 30 isaccessible. In addition, the end portion 31 provides a stop for one ofthe wheels 3 of the motorcycle 2 when the motorcycle 2 is positioned inthe base member 20.

The restraining member 40 is securable at both ends to the U-shaped lockbar 30. In a preferred embodiment, the restraining member 40 comprises afirst section 41 and a second section 44 each having a first end 42 and45, respectively, and a second end 43 and 46, respectively. As such, thefirst end 42 of the first section 41 is joined to the lockable length 33of one of the side portions 32 of the U-shaped lock bar 30 and the firstend 45 of the second section 44 is joined to the lockable length 33 ofthe other side portion 32 of the U-shaped lock bar 30. Accordingly, thesecond end 43 of the first section 41 and the second end 46 of thesecond section 44 are securely joined together with a padlock 49 or thelike. In a preferred embodiment, the restraining member 40 is a chain.It is to be understood, however, that the restraining member 40 may alsobe a cable.

In use, a motorcycle 2 is positioned in the base member 20 such that thefront wheel 3 abuts the end portion 31 of the U-shaped lock bar 30.Thereafter, the restraining member 40 is used to secure the motorcycle 2to the base member 20. The first section 41 of the restraining member 40and the second section 44 of the restraining member 40 are joinedtogether such that the motorcycle 2 is immobilized. To do so, the firstsection 41 and the second section 44 may be inserted through the frameof the motorcycle 2 or tightly arranged over the seat of the motorcycle2 (since the seat of a motorcycle is often a low point between the frontand the rear of the motorcycle).

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A security stand for a motorcycle, comprising: an elongatedhorizontal base member anchorable to an underlying surface, saidelongated horizontal base member including a planar bottom portion and apair of inverted V-shaped portions integrally joined to and extendingalong opposite sides of said planar bottom portion, each of said pair ofinverted V-shaped portions including an inner wall and an outer wall,said inner wall being integrally joined to said planar bottom portion, aplane of said inner wall being oriented at an angle to a plane of saidbottom portion, said outer wall integrally joined to said inner wall andgenerally vertically oriented; a U-shaped lock bar attached to andextending horizontally along both sides of said base member, saidU-shaped lock bar including an end portion and a pair of side portionseach extending from opposite ends of said end portion in a spacedsubstantially parallel relationship, said U-shaped being attached tosaid base member such that a first of said pair of side portions of saidU-shaped lock bar is positioned within a first of said pair of invertedV-shaped portions of said base member and a second of said pair of sideportions of said U-shaped lock bar is positioned within a second of saidpair of inverted V-shaped portions of said base member, whereby saidpair of side portions each extend horizontally along opposite sides ofsaid base member and said end portion projects beyond an end of saidbase member; a restraining member having a pair of ends each beingsecurable to portions of said U-shaped lock bar, whereby said motorcycleis positionable in said base member and said restraining member issecurable about said motorcycle such that said motorcycle isimmobilized; each of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions of saidbase member has a cutout therein, said cutout provided at a union ofsaid inner wall and said outer wall, said cutout having a first portionextending into said inner wall and a second portion extending into saidouter wall, and each of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lockbar are of sufficient length so as to extend beyond said cutout providedin each of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions of said base member,whereby a lockable length of each of said pair of side portions of saidU-shaped lock bar is accessible through said cutout.
 2. The securitystand of claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said base member has aplurality of holes therethrough, and further comprises: a plurality ofanchor bolts, one of said plurality of anchor bolts inserted through oneof said plurality of holes in said base member, said plurality of anchorbolts anchoring said base member to an underlying surface.
 3. Thesecurity stand of claim 2, further comprises: a security plate securedto said base member over said bottom portion thereof, said securityplate limiting access to said anchor bolts used to anchor said basemember to said underlying surface.
 4. The security stand of claim 3,wherein said security plate extends substantially from one end of saidbase member to another end of said base member, and wherein saidsecurity plate is hingedly connected to said bottom portion of said basemember at one end thereof.
 5. The security stand of claim 1, whereinsaid restraining member includes a first section and a second section,said first section and said second section each having a first end and asecond end, said first end of said first section joined to said lockablelength of a first of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lockbar, said first end of said second section joined to said lockablelength of a second of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lockbar, securing means for removably securing said second end of said firstsection and said second end of said second section.
 6. The securitystand of claim 5, wherein said restraining member is a chain.
 7. Thesecurity stand of claim 1, wherein said angle measures about 60 degrees.8. The security stand of claim 1, wherein said end portion of saidU-shaped lock bar provides a stop for a wheel of said motorcycle whensaid motorcycle is positioned in said base member.
 9. A security standfor use in immobilizing a motorcycle with a restraining member having afirst end and a second end, said security stand comprising: an elongatedhorizontal base member anchorable to an underlying surface, saidelongated horizontal base member including a planar bottom portion and apair of inverted V-shaped portions integrally joined to and extendingalong opposite sides of said planar bottom portion, each of said pair ofinverted V-shaped portions including an inner wall and an outer wall,said inner wall integrally joined to said planar bottom portion-andoriented at an angle thereto, said outer wall integrally joined to saidinner wall and generally vertically oriented; and a U-shaped lock barattached to and extending horizontally along both sides of said basemember, said U-shaped lock bar including an end portion and a pair ofside portions each extending from opposite ends of said end portion in aspaced substantially parallel relationship, said U-shaped lock barattached to said base member such that a first of said pair of sideportions of said U-shaped lock bar is positioned within a first of saidpair of inverted V-shaped portions of said base member and a second ofsaid pair of side portions of said U-shaped lock bar is positionedwithin a second of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions of said basemember, said pair of side portions each extend horizontally alongopposite sides of said base member and whereby said end portion projectsbeyond an end of said base member, each of said pair of invertedV-shaped portions of said base member having a cutout therein, saidcutout provided at a union of said inner wall and said outer wall, saidcutout having a first portion extending into said inner wall and asecond portion extending into said outer wall, each of said pair of sideportions of said U-shaped lock bar being of sufficient length so as toextend across said cutout provided in each of'said pair of invertedV-shaped portions, wherein a lockable length of each of said pair ofside portions of said U-shaped lock bar is accessible through saidcutout, said motorcycle being positionable on said base member andsecurable thereto by said restraining member wherein said first end ofsaid restraining member is securable to said lockable length of a firstof said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lock bar and said secondend of said restraining member is securable to said lockable length of asecond of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lock bar.
 10. Thesecurity stand of claim 9, wherein said bottom portion of said basemember has a plurality of holes therethrough, and further comprises: aplurality of anchor bolts, one of said plurality of anchor boltsinserted through one of said plurality of holes in said base member,said plurality of anchor bolts anchoring said base member to anunderlying surface.
 11. The security stand of claim 10, furthercomprises: a security plate secured to said base member over said bottomportion thereof, said security plate limiting access to said anchorbolts used to anchor said base member to said underlying surface. 12.The security stand of claim 11, wherein said security plate extendssubstantially from one end of said base member to another end of saidbase member, and wherein said security plate is hingedly connected tosaid bottom portion of base member at one end thereof.
 13. A securitystand for a motorcycle, comprising: an elongated base member foranchoring to an underlying surface, said base member includes a planarbottom portion and a pair of inverted V-shaped portions integrallyjoined to and extending along opposite sides of said planar bottomportion, each of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions includes aninner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall being integrally joined tosaid planar bottom portion, a plane of said inner wall being oriented atan angle to a plane of said bottom portion, said outer wall beingintegrally joined to said inner wall; a U-shaped lock bar attached toand extending horizontally along both sides of said base member, saidU-shaped lock bar including an end portion and a pair of side portions,each of said side portions extending from opposite ends of said endportion in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship, saidU-shaped lock bar being attached to said base member in a manner suchthat a first of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lock bar ispositioned in a first of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions of saidbase member and a second of said pair of side portions of said U-shapedlock bar is positioned in a second of said pair of inverted V-shapedportions of said base member; and a restraining member for extendingabout the motorcycle, said restraining member having a pair of ends eachbeing securable to portions of said U-shaped lock bar; wherein each ofsaid pair of inverted V-shaped portions of said base member has a cutoutformed therein, said cutout being located at a juncture of said innerwall and said outer wail, said cutout having a first portion extendinginto said inner wall and a second portion extending into said outerwall; wherein each of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lockbar are of sufficient length so as to extend across said cutout providedin each of said pair of inverted V-shaped portions of said base memberto thereby expose the portions of said U-shaped lock bar through saidcutout.
 14. The security stand of claim 13, wherein said bottom portionof said base member has a plurality of holes therethrough, and furthercomprises a plurality of anchor bolts for anchoring said base member toan underlying surface, each of said plurality of anchor bolts beinginserted through one of said plurality of holes in said base member. 15.The security stand of claim 14, further comprising a security plate forlimiting access to said anchor bolts used to anchor said base member tosaid underlying surface, said security plate being secured to said basemember over said bottom portion thereof.
 16. The security stand of claim15, wherein said security plate extends substantially from a first endof said base member to a second end of said base member, and whereinsaid security plate is pivotally connected to said bottom portion ofsaid base member at one of said ends thereof.
 17. The security stand ofclaim 13, wherein said restraining member includes a first section and asecond section, said first section and said second section each having afirst end and a second end; said first end of said first section beingjoined to a first of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lockbar at said cutout, said first end of said second section being joinedto a second of said pair of side portions of said U-shaped lock bar atsaid cutout; securing means for removably securing said second end ofsaid first section and said second end of said second section.
 18. Thesecurity stand of claim 17, wherein said restraining member is a chain.